Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: 4. Temporary Hero Promotion Exam (5)
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Killing intent.
There are few creatures capable of wielding this primal, almost supernatural aura.
Demonkin, whose instinct is etched with murderous desire by nature.
And humans who have dipped their hands in murder multiple times.
It's not something Vivian, who has lived her whole life meekly, can handle.
Yet somehow, as she glared at Felix now, there was a palpable edge of killing intent emanating from her.
He knew it had to be an illusion, but it still sent chills down his spine.
The contrast with her usual demeanor made it all the more eerie.
"V-Vivian?"
Vivian ignored him completely and walked past.
She planted herself in front of the fallen Felix, beyond the wall of ice spears.
"You... How dare you...!"
Felix kept mouthing off even after collapsing.
Impressive, in a way.
-Kwa-gwak!
An Ice Spear dropped from the sky, encircling Felix in a perfect ring.
He stared at the spears surrounding him, then lunged forward desperately and grabbed Vivian's collar.
"You little...! Aaaagh!"
Vivian seized his wrist and twisted it.
It lacked Kati's finesse, but she snapped it with sheer strength.
Now with some muscle and power packed on, Vivian was a full-fledged superhuman.
Not someone a mere civilian like Felix could touch without proper armament.
"Hey."
He thought he'd misheard, but it was Vivian speaking.
Her voice was low and icy.
"H-Hey...?"
"Hoo... Cut it out. I'm only holding back because of Ian. I won't kill you for his sake."
"Th-This...!"
As Felix tried to speak, a massive chunk of ice plummeted onto him.
Vivian had summoned an Ice Spear.
Trapped by the spears and with his wrist gripped tight, he had no way to dodge.
"G-Gaaaah-!"
Felix let out a terrified scream.
The sharply falling ice shattered spectacularly upon hitting him.
It had been hollow inside from the start.
Vivian had adjusted the density just to scare him.
"No third warning."
Vivian released his wrist with a flick.
Felix slumped down, gasping for breath.
"You... You think you can...!"
"Ah, fuck. You just don't fucking listen."
Thankfully, that wasn't Vivian.
Marie, who had been watching from afar, approached.
"I saved your ass from almost dying, and this is how you repay me? What the hell?"
"Marie, you...! How dare you speak to a guild senior like me...!"
"Senior my ass. I've never seen you as a senior. If you die here, maybe I'll acknowledge you as a senior who's kicked the bucket before me. Wanna try?"
"Wh-What...?"
She'd seemed a bit fierce at first glance, but this personality...
She'd been cursing loud enough for Felix to hear while waiting, after all.
Hm. This is getting interesting.
"Anyway, you steal promising kids other managers have trained well, pass them off as your own achievements, and now your whole scheme's exposed. Last time you dragged in some non-superhuman and made a fool of yourself before giving up. Riding high now, huh?"
"Don't slander me! I've always done it with my own skill...!"
"Skill? Please. You used your rank and authority to poach ones with high pass potential. And you're even copying Penny's speech and expressions. Not embarrassed?"
She must have a lot pent up.
Considering Felix's personality, it made sense.
"H-How do you know...?"
"Know what? This isn't the first time I've cursed you to your face, and I've trashed you behind your back plenty. Aren't I famous for that? Why pretend not to know? Because you're a moron who only believes what he wants?"
"You think you'll get away with this in the guild?"
"What if I don't? What'll you do? Oh, like how you threatened Ian earlier—stab me? Go on, stab me. Right here?"
Marie picked up the fallen dagger and shoved it into Felix's hand.
She even pressed the blade tip to her own throat.
"Here, stab away. Just kill me. Why not?"
"Y-You psycho bitch...!"
Felix freaked out and dropped the dagger.
Honestly, even I was startled.
What is this woman... a former hero?
Or at least a superhuman?
But her aspirants looked shocked, so probably not.
"You'll regret this..."
"Save the regrets for yourself. Don't you feel bad for those kids?"
Marie pointed at the party Felix had brought.
The four of them could only watch awkwardly, unable to intervene in his disgrace.
"Me and my kids—fine, say I was late and ended up in the same exam room as that monster mage. But them? You dragged them here just because you couldn't stand seeing promising aspirants you failed before doing well. Threatened to charge penalty fees and kick them from the training hall if they didn't obey. You blackmailed their managers too. Right?"
"......"
"You really owe them an apology. They could've passed in any other exam room."
"......"
Felix had no comeback and slunk away.
As he opened his mouth for more nonsense,
One of his aspirants spoke up.
"Mr. Felix. Let's just... go."
"What? You...!"
The others reacted similarly.
Aspirants having to placate and lead their manager away.
Felix was the only abnormal one here.
This is hilarious.
Felix glared around bitterly, then shot to his feet and stormed off stomping.
Or tried to.
Vivian's ice spears blocked the way.
He squeezed through them in a pathetic, desperate scramble, then fled into the distance.
His four aspirants hurried over with apologies.
"We're sorry..."
"Hm. Doesn't seem like it was your fault."
"Well... It's true we thought it might be worth a shot when we heard about Vivian."
Glancing at Vivian, her eerie expression was gone.
She didn't seem offended or intimidated by their words.
She's grown a lot.
"Still, there was coercion involved."
"True..."
"No need to apologize for every little thing. It's fine—go on. It'll get noisy. Apologize to Vivian instead."
"Yes, truly sorry..."
Vivian gave a slight smile and nodded.
"A-And... it was amazing and exciting to meet Mr. Ian!"
"Huh? You know me?"
"Of course! Any fan of the 1st Hero Party would!"
Vivian, standing beside me, nodded in satisfaction with a smile.
Why are you happier about it than me?
"No idea why you're here, but anyway, sorry! Congrats on passing the exam, Miss Vivian!"
"Thank you."
The four rushed off after their hasty apologies.
"Ian?"
Next was Marie's turn.
"You're really that Ian?"
"Unless there's another one."
"Yeah, must be. I'm Marie."
Marie stuck out her hand.
I shook it and greeted her again.
"Ian here."
"Guild's got a lot of crazies. Forgive us."
"I knew that much. But aren't we colleagues in the same guild?"
"Colleagues?"
Marie's face twisted sharply.
Like she'd bitten into a bug.
"Colleagues with that vomit-spewing retard?"
What was with that phrasing?
It felt familiar.
Not the tone, but the word choice...
"I'd rather marry a slime than be called colleagues with that."
I got it.
Her unique metaphors reminded me of Mercy.
Far more blunt, but the vibe was similar.
"Didn't realize you hated him that much. 'Colleagues' was rude, then."
"Well, you probably don't know what a piece of shit he is. Watch out so you don't run into him again. He's rotten like dung."
Definitely.
Overkill like Mercy.
"By the way, are you a former hero? Or a superhuman?"
"Huh? No. Why?"
"...That knife thing earlier?"
"Oh, that? He doesn't have the guts to stab anyone."
I knew Felix lacked guts.
But this Marie had guts that weren't normal.
No matter how confident, what civilian does that?
"I heard rumors he was dangerous."
"Felix? Sure, he's snatched people by force sometimes. But only when he thinks he's got the upper hand—otherwise, he's useless. And he exaggerates those few intimidation wins to spread rumors on purpose. To look scary."
So that's what Taylor's rumors meant.
"Anyway, um..."
Marie, about to say something, stood on tiptoe to peer behind me, then jerked her chin that way.
Turning, I saw Vivian hanging back awkwardly, head down, peeking nervously.
"Vivian? What're you doing?"
"Oh, um... didn't want to interrupt..."
Interrupt?
Did she mean she wanted to stay close but thought she'd bother our conversation, so she kept her distance?
"Don't be silly. Come here."
She'd reverted to her usual timid self.
The boldness from bursting the King Slime and intimidating Felix was nowhere to be seen.
She edged over cautiously at my words.
Marie spoke up.
"Where'd you find this gem? You're the one who built that Ice Tower in the training hall, right?"
Vivian nodded shyly.
Ice Tower, huh? Even got a nickname.
"Well, she followed well. And yeah, I trained her good."
"I like the honesty. What doesn't Felix like about someone like this...?"
"Guess that's the level of his judgment."
Marie burst out laughing at that.
You could see how much she enjoyed trashing Felix.
Vivian, who'd been watching warily, suddenly apologized to Marie.
"S-Sorry..."
"Huh? To me? Why?"
"Well, I, um..."
I could guess what she wanted to say.
Not something good—should I stop her?
Marie crossed her arms and stared Vivian down.
"Vivian."
"Yes?"
"That's false modesty."
"Eh?"
"Apologizing after doing great? It's no different from arrogance."
Excessive humility is no different from pride.
Vivian's face flushed as she got it.
"So don't apologize. Unless you're trying to embarrass me and my aspirants."
"Y-Yes, sorry...!"
"Whoa? I said don't apologize."
"Eep!"
Vivian clamped her mouth with both hands.
Marie stepped forward boldly, arms still crossed.
Shorter than Vivian, but even with her head bowed, Marie peered right into her face.
Staring at Vivian, Marie smirked.
"Cute."
"Hii?!"
Clearly smaller, yet it felt like she was looking down from above.
"Anyway, heard you've struggled a long time—congrats. Nice seeing that Felix bastard eat dirt."
"You'll get good results next time too, Marie."
I greeted on behalf of the frozen, mouth-covered Vivian.
"Gotta try. Oh, right—I'll spread the word about today when I leave. That giant slime, and Felix pissing himself and falling too."
A hero's fame isn't built on skill alone.
Spreading rumors and getting people talking brings more support, and greater fulfillment for the hero.
"Anyway, nice meeting you, Vivian, Ian!"
Marie tossed the farewell casually and turned.
As she walked away, I overheard her talking to her aspirants.
"Hey, you idiots. Why the long faces? Cheer up—do better next time."
"But we..."
"No buts. Yeah, we were late and didn't see the exam right, but that doesn't mean we failed. Don't blame yourselves. Got it?"
What was that tsundere cursing...
Rough speech and vocab, but her head was on straight.
Most normal person I'd met lately—confusingly so.
Vivian, watching her go, looked up at me intently.
"What?"
"She kinda... looks like you, Ian."
"...Have I ever cursed at you, Vivian?"
"No, not that. The expression, the look... um."
I pictured Marie's face.
Somehow, faintly...
That weary, everything-irritates-me, sharp-edged expression.
...I hate to admit it, but yeah.
"Honestly, she resembles Mercy more."
"Ehh?! No way."
Vivian doesn't know Mercy's trash talk yet.
"Oh, Vivian. Even a civilian knife won't faze me if stabbed."
"Ah, r-right... Makes sense, since you broke a sword barehanded..."
I knew she worried, but
no need to overdo it.
"That... it was magic slipping out unconsciously. Couldn't hold it back."
"I get it. Just for future reference."
"Y-Yeah..."
"Wonder how much you were worrying for magic to leak subconsciously."
"......"
"Kinda curious?"
"......"
Her face is gonna explode.
Better stop teasing.
*
As we exited the dungeon, a waiting guide spotted us and approached.
"Congratulations. You can pick up your Temporary Hero certification in two days."
"Yes...!"
Vivian nodded vigorously.
She'd longed for that Temporary Hero cert, so naturally excited.
"The magic stone can be submitted immediately..."
Mid-sentence, the guide eyed the stone in Vivian's hand.
Its size was leagues beyond a typical exam room stone.
Even bigger than from a Big Slime.
"Did you encounter a specimen larger than a Big Slime?"
I answered.
"Yes. About three or four times the usual Big Slime size. It split its body to create Green Slimes, and those spawned slimes moved under the giant one's command."
Vivian nodded beside me.
First time hearing this, apparently—the guide rubbed his chin, eyes rolling.
Even if he suspected lies, that watermelon-sized stone was undeniably abnormal.
"We'll investigate further. As for the stone..."
He probably wanted it right away.
First lowest-grade stone this big—prime for analysis.
But Vivian looked reluctant.
Exam hall stones must be submitted by rule, but they give a deadline.
Not really meaningful—just time to show it off.
To spread word of the hero's feats.
Used to be an imperial department; now the Managers' Guild handles it.
I stepped in for Vivian.
"We'll submit with the certification."
"Understood."
The guide promptly called someone to search the dungeon interior.
Only then did Mercy and Kati, waiting afar, approach.
"Congrats! Knew you'd nail it!"
Mercy yelled excitedly, while Kati said nothing.
"Heh, hehe... Thank you."
"But are magic stones usually this big? It's practically ogre-head sized."
"A super huge slime showed up. Guess that's why the stone's big too."
"Oho... Bound for greatness!"
Mercy nodded, grinning like all was well.
"So that's why that mole-rolled-in-harpy-shit guy's face looked like that?"
"Oh, Vivian's ex-manager?"
"Yeah. Waiting around, and he shuffles by with a face like a pickaxed rock."
"Too bad I missed that face."
He must've been furious.
Handily beaten by the aspirant he discarded as incompetent.
On the way to the summoned carriage, Vivian whispered beside me.
"Ian's right."
"About what?"
"Marie and Mercy... they do look alike."
"See?"
I whispered so Mercy ahead wouldn't hear.
Vivian glanced sideways at Mercy's back and nodded emphatically, convinced.
*
Vivian collapsed like she'd fainted the moment we boarded the carriage.
Her skills had improved, but she was still clumsy.
And she'd overused mana.
"Straight to the inn?"
Mercy asked as if obvious, but not our destination.
"No."
"Then?"
"To Agnes Abbey."
To brag, show it to the people she most wants to first.
Plus, time to scout our next stop.
Macdullin Abbey or something—not set yet.
Mercy grinned, getting my intent.
The carriage sped straight for Agnes Abbey.